Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is a severe genetic disease caused by an X-linked recessive mutation leading to reduced/abnormal dystrophin, resulting in a peripheral myopathy and a cardiomyopathy (CM). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the myocardial structure and function in BMD.

The LGE patterns are different in primitive CM and BMD: in primitive CM, LGE is usually mid-parietal and circumferential; in BMD, it is mainly lateral and sub-epicardial. Relaxometry data demonstrate that the main lesions are inflammatory and fibrotic. The coexistence of both inflammation and fibrosis is uncommon in the same segments. T2 mapping is a useful tool to differentiate fibrosis from both fibrosis and edema. Becker cardiomyopathy may be considered as a "chronic active genetic myocarditis". Further clinical and MRI investigations must explore if the relaxometry data may help to predict long-term survival in Becker dystrophy.

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